Dear Members of the Fordham Community,
On Monday, the University will close in honor of Juneteenth, a growing national holiday that celebrates a remarkable event. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers reached and physically liberated the thousands of enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, several months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Ever since, the celebration of Juneteenth has spread outwards from Texas, a reminder of the grueling struggle necessary for this nation to live up to its founding ideals of freedom and equality. Juneteenth celebrates a moment of joy, but it also reminds us of the terrible road that lay ahead for millions released from bondage with only the clothes on their backs. It reminds us of the long and unfinished struggle for true freedom.
To learn more, join the University’s Juneteenth event, Making Freedom Dreams Reality: Black Activism, Constitutional Rights & The Ongoing Struggle for Liberation, on Tuesday, June 20, from noon to 1:15 p.m., in the McShane Campus Center, Room 112, and Via Zoom (note that you must use your Fordham account to access the Zoom session).
All my best,
Tania Tetlow
President
